Google Docs is currently part of Google Workspace and is Google’s version of a word-processing application. In my opinion, it is one of the best out there and is available for free. It has gone by many names since its basic creation in 2006. You can get more features, including more than the free 15 GB of storage, if you pay for an upgrade. If you want to know more about the history of Google Workspace, check out ghtech.site/GoogleWorkspace.
Today we will look at five tips for using Google Docs. To do some of these, you will need to be logged into your Google account in your browser. The easiest way is to log into Gmail. If there is any interest shown through my emails, we may look at tips for other Workspace products. Please let me know by email.
1. This is one of my favorites. To open a new document in Google, type “docs.new” or “doc.new” in your browser’s address bar. Almost immediately, a new document will open in your browser, allowing you to start typing.
2. My next favorite feature I use is Voice Typing. To start it, go to Tools / Voice Typing and start speaking in a document. You can also use voice commands like “period”, “comma”, “new paragraph”, etc. to format your document. You may ask, “How accurate is it?” Good question! The feature is excellent for me, transcribing voice-to-text; however, I do have problems with some features like bolding and underlining by voice. It does not always cooperate. I mainly use it for dictating ideas, sentences and to start new paragraphs. I then go back and add any specific types of formats needed.
3. OK, this is one that ruffles everyone’s feathers. You can use AI (artificial intelligence) to help write your document. Here is where I tried it just now:
I wrote, “Tell me how to use voice dictation with Google Docs.” The following is some of what it wrote:
“Open a Google Doc. Click the Tools menu and select Voice typing. Click on the microphone icon to start speaking. Speak clearly and slowly so that Google can understand you. Click on the microphone icon again to stop speaking. Edit your text as needed.”
Not bad, but I trust and prefer to use my brain more than a computer for thinking.
4. If you go to Extensions / Add-ons, you will see a listing of items you can add to Google Docs that may help you. For instance, more detailed grammar checkers, pretty form makers, your contacts can be used in docs, etc. I use one of them, called “Form Notifications.” This allows me to be notified of responses when decisions are made in any Google Form I have created in Docs. This helps me to be more responsive to information gathering. I also use one that allows me to open “Zoom” to present my documents in an online meeting.
5. Last but not least is Word Count. Since I write for newspapers and magazines, I have word limitations. For instance, some articles have a limit of around 600 characters and others more or less. So, if I go to a document and choose Tools / Word count. It will give me the number of pages, words, characters, and characters excluding spaces. It will also allow me to turn on the word counter as I type for that and any other document in the future. Very helpful for me!
I hope these tips help make your document creations more efficient and easier to perform. I find that I use these five and more; however, the ones above are some of my highlights.
